Contents

Ninsei was tormented by the death of his brother, who had been executed for the murder of a fellow samurai. [1] The truth was that Ninsei was the one guilty of the murder. Ninsei's older brother forced Ninsei to obey him, allowing him to take the blame for the murder. Ninsei had been wracked with self-loathing ever since. [2]

Ninsei was a quiet man consumed with guilt and rage, driven to prove himself to be an honorable man. Most think Ninsei punished himself constantly for the dishonor to his family. Every day he hurled himself into his duty in his post at Oiku with a zeal that showed him as the perfect samurai. To himself, he was an honorless cur. [2]